--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find my greatest pleasure, and so my…" description: "\"I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.\" — Thomas A. Edison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/thomas-a-edison-866_greatest-pleasure_i-find-my-greatest-pleasure-and-so-my-re_3050692.jpg" --- # I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work… ![“I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/thomas-a-edison-866_greatest-pleasure_i-find-my-greatest-pleasure-and-so-my-re_3050692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/thomas-a-edison-866_greatest-pleasure_i-find-my-greatest-pleasure-and-so-my-re_3050692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0a/thomas-a-edison-866_greatest-pleasure_i-find-my-greatest-pleasure-and-so-my-re_3050692.jpg) > “I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.” [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding joy in the preparatory work leads to fulfillment, regardless of external recognition of success. **In simple terms:** Enjoy the process, not just the outcome. Key Takeaway Focus on the work itself for intrinsic reward. Themes process intrinsic motivation ful fulfillment Mood motivational thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - daily project planning - skill development - creative endeavors - career building Key Concepts psychology philosophy of work mindset Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your work bring you joy? - How can you separate personal fulfillment from external validation? A Different Perspective Success may still be defined by societal standards, limiting personal satisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatest pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-pleasure/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its reward to the man who loves his work. But... I continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/one-might-think-that-the-money-value-of-an-invention-constitutes-its/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“Thomas Edison once said, “One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its reward to the man who loves his work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-niven/thomas-edison-once-said-one-might-think-that-the-money-value-of-an/) Paul R. Niven > [“Pleasure is a reward, given to the human system by evolution in return for services rendered to the preservation and increase of the species.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/pleasure-is-a-reward-given-to-the-human-system-by-evolution-in-return/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [“The way that Nico looks at me makes me high. It’s like a drug I crave desperately to have again. His pleasure is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/the-way-that-nico-looks-at-me-makes-me-high-it-s-like-a-drug-i-crave/) [Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/) > [Pain is not a punishment. And pleasure is not a reward. You could argue that failure is not punishment and Success is not reward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lewis/pain-is-not-a-punishment-and-pleasure-is-not-a-reward-you-could-argue/) [Sarah Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lewis/) > [“...the reward centers of the brain--where the pleasure of those high-calorie foods registers--also respond to other substances that bring about pleasure…But those reward centers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-greene/the-reward-centers-of-the-brain-where-the-pleasure-of-those-high/) [Bob Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-greene/) > [Pain is not a punishment; pleasure is not a reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/pain-is-not-a-punishment-pleasure-is-not-a-reward/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you are alone, tell some stories to yourself. This is a different kind of pleasure and it has, indeed, its reward. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nodier/if-you-are-alone-tell-some-stories-to-yourself-this-is-a-different/) [Charles Nodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-nodier/) > [After 30 years I have realized the greatest pleasure I can get is to have learnt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/after-30-years-i-have-realized-the-greatest-pleasure-i-can-get-is-to/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The greatest pleasure in my life is doing something people say I can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-pleasure-in-my-life-is-doing-something-people-say-i-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-salk/the-reward-for-work-well-done-is-the-opportunity-to-do-more/) [Jonas Salk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-salk/) > [The reward is found in the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-reward-is-found-in-the-work/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Work and thou canst escape the reward; whether the work be fine or course, planting corn or writing epics, so only it be honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/work-and-thou-canst-escape-the-reward-whether-the-work-be-fine-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Low-wage individuals barely get anything. I think we have to reward work, and I do think that we need to bump up the earned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/low-wage-individuals-barely-get-anything-i-think-we-have-to-reward/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Thomas A. Edison > [We are striking it big in the electric light, better than my vivid imagination first conceived. Where this thing is going to stop Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/we-are-striking-it-big-in-the-electric-light-better-than-my-vivid/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are 1000 ways that can cause failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-will-not-say-i-failed-1000-times-i-will-say-that-i-discovered-there/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Friendship is the heaven of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/friendship-is-the-heaven-of-life/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Personally, I enjoy working about 18 hours a day. Besides the short catnaps I take each day, I average about four to five hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/personally-i-enjoy-working-about-18-hours-a-day-besides-the-short/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if on will only take the pains to train the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-brain-can-be-developed-just-the-same-as-the-muscles-can-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“People who will not turn a shovel full of dirt on the project nor contribute a pound of material, will collect more money from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/people-who-will-not-turn-a-shovel-full-of-dirt-on-the-project-nor/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When I have fully decided that a result is worth getting I go ahead of it and make trial after trial until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/when-i-have-fully-decided-that-a-result-is-worth-getting-i-go-ahead/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I remember that I was never able to get along at school. I was at the foot of the class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-remember-that-i-was-never-able-to-get-along-at-school-i-was-at-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/invention-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [There seems to be no limit to which some men will go to avoid the labor of thinking. Thinking is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/there-seems-to-be-no-limit-to-which-some-men-will-go-to-avoid-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Somewhere between the ages of eleven and fifteen, the average child begins to suffer from an atrophy, the paralysis of curiosity and the suspension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/somewhere-between-the-ages-of-eleven-and-fifteen-the-average-child/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Not only will atomic power be released, but someday we will harness the rise and fall of the tides and imprison the rays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/not-only-will-atomic-power-be-released-but-someday-we-will-harness/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) [Explore all 345 Thomas A. Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## More Greatest pleasure quotes > [After 30 years I have realized the greatest pleasure I can get is to have learnt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/after-30-years-i-have-realized-the-greatest-pleasure-i-can-get-is-to/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [The greatest pleasure in my life is doing something people say I can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-pleasure-in-my-life-is-doing-something-people-say-i-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest pleasure in life is doing, what others say you cannot do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enggalikhan/the-greatest-pleasure-in-life-is-doing-what-others-say-you-cannot-do/) Enggalikhan > [The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do, and seeing that look on their face when you prove them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-pleasure-in-life-is-doing-what-people-say-you-cannot-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My greatest pleasure is still flying private. I spend between $300,000 to $500,000, depending on my year, on flying private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/my-greatest-pleasure-is-still-flying-private-i-spend-between-300-000/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [People often think that people like me don't have ordinary lives. I have the greatest pleasure, and in fact, the greatest success in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-shipley/people-often-think-that-people-like-me-don-t-have-ordinary-lives-i/) [Jenny Shipley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-shipley/) > [Poetry was one of the things that interested me most as I was growing up. I used to write it in my head all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/poetry-was-one-of-the-things-that-interested-me-most-as-i-was-growing/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [The greatest pleasure of reading consists in re-reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-lee/the-greatest-pleasure-of-reading-consists-in-re-reading/) [Vernon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-lee/) > [I thank heaven I have often had it in my power to give help and relief, and this is still my greatest pleasure. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/i-thank-heaven-i-have-often-had-it-in-my-power-to-give-help-and/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [“Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God’s greatest pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/knowing-and-loving-god-is-our-greatest-privilege-and-being-known-and/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The greatest pleasure in life is doing something others said you cannot do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-pleasure-in-life-is-doing-something-others-said-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say U cannot do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/the-greatest-pleasure-in-life-is-doing-what-people-say-u-cannot-do/) Unkown > [It is a writer's greatest pleasure to hear that someone was kept up until the unholy hours of the morning reading one of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/it-is-a-writer-s-greatest-pleasure-to-hear-that-someone-was-kept-up/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My child is my greatest pleasure...fulfilling my days with immense pleasure...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-tripathi/my-child-is-my-greatest-pleasure-fulfilling-my-days-with-immense/) [Mallika Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-tripathi/) > [Your greatest pleasure is that which rebounds from hearts that you have made glad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/your-greatest-pleasure-is-that-which-rebounds-from-hearts-that-you/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Browse all 65 Greatest pleasure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-pleasure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas A. 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